A Shortcut To Writing Chromatic Scales

Here is a shortcut for writing chromatic scales: Ascending Descending

Ascending(going up): (Example)

  1. Write the beginning and end note of the scale. (C - C, Eb - Eb, etc.)
  2. Write "two" of each note between the end notes except for E and B. (There is no sharp between E/F and B/C, remember!)
  3. Sharpen the 2nd note of each note pair.

Ascending Example

Animated Example

(requires Flash plug-in)

D Chromatic Scale Ascending

1) Write the beginning and end note of the scale. (C - C, Eb - Eb, etc.)

2) Write "two" of each note between the end notes except for E and B.

 

3) Sharpen the 2nd note of each note pair.

Descending (going down): (Example)

  1. Write the beginning and end note of the scale. (C - C, Eb - Eb, etc.)
  2. Write two of each note between the end notes except for C and F. (There is no flat between E/F and B/C, remember!)
  3. Flatten the 2nd note of each note pair.

Descending Example

Animated Example

(requires Flash plug-in)

B Chromatic Scale Descending

1) Write the beginning and end note of the scale. (C - C, Eb - Eb, etc.)

 

2) Write "two" of each note between the end notes except for C and F.

 

3) Flatten the 2nd note of each note pair.

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